Question on Dosing containers

Quick question as I'm in the process of setting up my Apex reef controller and Dosing pumps. I use ESV 2 part in the one gallon concentrated containers which require adding and mixing of fresh RO water prior to use.

My Dosing approach was simply to have airline tubing long enough to be close to the bottom of the containers. The containers would be enclosed behind a cabinet. I'm worried if I'd loose potency of the mixtures due to evaporation with the caps for the containers staying off. I'm going to be using BRS Dosing pumps.

Am I over-thinking this or is this what most reefers do? Also should I give the containers a shake every now and then or leave them be until depletion? TIA

 

Drill a hole through the container's cap that is the same size or slightly smaller than the line you are using to dose the solution.

 

Exactly. Drill a hole in the cap for the airline. Also, no need to shake once everything is in solution.

 

Thank you both. That's what I will do.

 

+1 on above

with a proviso

some powder products can fall out of solution/ precipitate so its worth checking on the product your using and then making a desicion later as to the need to periodically shake
if you have added more ions than the water can maintain in solution
so its better to have a heavy diluted mixture of some products in order to prevent this

example - reef builder - 1 teaspoon will dissolve or appears to dissolve in 250 mils of water, but wait an hour and you will get fall out !

increase to 350 mils of water, and this prevents that IME

the bubble magus dosing containers I have , allow for this by having the firm tubing stop 2 cm above the bottom of the container, so you dont get right down to any sediment that forms on the base

evaporation would not create lower potency - it would create higher potency as the solids would not evaporate only the water does leaving a higher concentration of dissolved solids

 

Thanks Steve.

Silly me, I was in a rush, but I did mean increase in potency due to evaporation.

The ESV product is already a solution to start, just concentrated. No powders to worry about sediment.

However, I'd rather remain safe and follow your recommendation of not letting the hose go all the way to the bottom. The containers aren't transparent, so I guess I can't really say for sure there's no sediment, especially if allowed to sit over a long period of time.

 

you could always go buy a clear container and then just fill them up now and then

 

Yes I could always do that also. Thank you